Page 17 of My Russian Protector

I open the door and take her by the hand, pulling her alongside me. The guard is still unconscious when we pass and Anna whispers, “Is he dead?”

“No, baby. He’s out cold,” I reply.

We slip through the kitchen and pantry and down the basement stairs. We’re so close now that I can feel the fresh air on the other side of the door. I turn on the penlight and take one step forward but Anna shrieks and stops me in my tracks.

Dimitri and the two guards from the front door are standing in front of us. I push Anna to the side and she falls in the dirt then spin the rifle into my hands and open fire, dropping each of the guards. Dimitri, quick for his size, ducks behind a stack of crates.

“Come out, Dimitri. You have nowhere to go,” I shout.

“I’ll wait here until help comes,” he replies.

The man on the roof is probably on his way, but it will take some time for him to figure out where the gunfire came from. I need to make a decision fast. I can leave Dimitri quivering in the corner and take Anna to safety or I can wait for the guard to come through the door.

I look over at Anna. She’s stunned but unharmed. As much as I’d like to put her father underground, I need to get her out of here, so I take her hand and rush to the basement door.

We run across the yard and into the street. “The car is over there,” I point and drag her to the BMW. We get in and I start the car. Engine revving, I pull out onto the street and speed back to the village. I check the mirror and determine that we haven’t been followed yet then take Anna’s hand in mine and kiss it repeatedly.

“This isn’t over yet. They’ll be coming for us. Your father is probably calling for backup right now,” I tell her.

“So, what do we do?” she asks.

“Something I never thought I would ever do,” I reply.

10

GOING STRAIGHT

ANNA

Alex pulls into the parking lot of a building complex and parks the car. I read the sign aloud, “Constable.” Drawing my eyebrows together, I turn to him and ask, “What are we doing here?”

“I had words with the Constable this morning. It seems he has suspicions about your father. We’re here to confirm them for him,” he replies. “Word will spread fast about this and nobody will care why I became a rat. They’ll just know that I can no longer be trusted.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask him.

He pulls me close and kisses my forehead, “I promised you that I wouldn’t kill your father, and keeping my word to you is more important than my reputation.”

I smile and say, “He has other children now. I’d never forgive myself if we made them orphans.”

“God, he didn’t deserve you,” he replies. “Let’s get this over with.”

We enter the police station and receive uneasy glances from the patrolmen inside.

“How can we help you?” a man behind the desk calls out.

“We’re looking for the Constable,” Alex tells him.

“He’s gone for the day. Is this something that an officer can assist you with?”

“No, it needs to be him. I promise you he’ll want to hear what we have to tell him. Is there any way that you could reach him?” Alex suggests.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to speak with one of us or come back in the morning,” the man taps his pen on the counter.

“I’m sorry, officer, but if we don’t speak to him now, my life will be in danger. We can’t return to the hotel, so if we have to wait until tomorrow, we’ll be waiting right here,” I break in.

“Have a seat. I’ll see what I can do,” he tells me.

I take Alex by the hand and say, “He’ll call him. Just wait.”

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